The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-18
A LEGEND OF LAKE GEORGE.
BY MRS. CLARA nIERwIN.


The Ravmonds were old settlers upon
Lake Ge orge. When the trackless wilder
ness was known only to the Indian and the
panther, and his slender canoe alone danced
upon the waters, they had ventured hither
TO seek n precarious livelihood. What was
their history, or what the motive which
could have induced them to take this haz-
ardous step, no one could tell. But some
of the Indians who were in the habit of
acting as guides, occasionally, to the OFF,
GERS at Fort 1iconderoga, gave him n repu-
tation for deeds of sinister hue, and many
were the singular reports which were circu-
lated respecting him.
1t was said that Raymond was not the
only occupant of the lone hut in which he
dwelt. During the night, when the stars
were quenched and the wind came whist
ling through the pines, shrill cries rang out
upon the air, and were repeated by the
echoes, until it seemed as if every tree and
stunted shrub had been gifted with human
voices.
Even the most savage of the Indians
trembled when they passed the mysterious
cabin whence these sounds proceeded, and
their proudest chieftains quailed before the
stern eye of the dark settler. 1t was also
said, when he first came to dwell In that
solitary spot, he was accompanied by fe-
male whose entire figure was hidden by
robe of black, even her features being
. closely masked-rendering vain the least
attempt at recognition.
And thus the story ran from mouth to
mouth until even the officers at the fort, the
privates themselves, and the sutler women
who furnished them with the little Injuries
of a soldiers life, were as familiar with the
tale as though each had been an actor in
the mystery.
On a dismal night of April a party con-
sisting of some half dozen officers were
gathered about table in small apartment
of the fort, discussing sundry glasses of
brandy and cigars whose flavor proclaim
ed them of foreign derivation. 1t was yet
In the early watches of the night, but the
brandy had done its work with most of the
group We are describing, and one was doz-
ing over his glass, another was preparing
to take up his lodging under the table,
while two who seemed less affected than the
rest were endeavoring to keep each other
awake by the relation OF some merry jest
or fragment of some we'll worn ballad.
"Ill tell you what it is, Frank, said one
Of these personages, starting suddenly from
q revery into which he had just fallen,
~either this brandy that we are imbibing
must be too strong for us or our heads to-
might must be of weaker stuff than usual.
What shall be done to keep ourselves
awake? 1 have it.
"Well?" yawned Frank, a comedy indi-
vidual of the middle age, "what new idea
have YOU got now. Some madcap prank,
I'll be bound. Your brain is always get
ting some one into trouble"
you've hit it. Frank; that's my thought,
exactly. You've heard the tale of old Ray
mond, the settler?"
"Have / not?" replied Frank; "the stery's
common in the fort. Nay, there's not
farmer within forty miles but knows it
we'll"
"'Tis said that he deals in witchcraft,"
said Perry, musingly. "But, be that as it
may, I'll Law you a wager that ere to-mor-
rows sun has risen I'll penetrate the mys-
terry"
"And lose your life, perchance, for the
sake of giving the neighborhood something
TO talk about. No, no, Perry-Tll not take
you up. There are too many perils in such
an adventure"
"Perils "-and Perry laughed contempt
uously as he spoke.
"Yes, Perry, perils. In the first place
you have to escape the vigilance of the SEN
tries; and should you be detected, motive
different from the true one might be at
tached"
That's true. But can bride one of the
men, or at the worst can leap the walls.
lake, in the midst of the Wilderness
place frequented only by hostile red men
and beasts of prey"
81 wear sword, and am not afraid TO
face danger" rejoined Perry.
The night is dark-a storm is fast COM
ing on, and your journey will be for the
most part over the lake"
IL can find canoe," said Perry, "and
am expert with the paddle. Come, Frank,
oppose rue no longer, for am determined.
This very night I'll penetrate Raymonds
mysterious secret; perhaps, in the endeavor
i may confer a benefit on some suffering
fellow being, whose groans are said to
awaken the forests echoes.
BE it as you will, then; | oppose you no
longer. For my part, however," said
Frank, IL believe the storys humbug,
and so I'll leave you to enjoy your agree
able adventure"
About an hour after the conversation,
canoe containing single figure shot
swiftly out from cove in the vicinity of
the tort. 1t was Perry. How he had man
aged to elude the sentries is a mystery; at
any rate he had cleared the fort, and was
now fairly embarked upon his dangerous
voyage. The night was fearfully dark,
and everything indicated an approaching
tempest, yet still the young officer held on
his way, fully resolved to accomplish what,
1t must be confessed, appeared to him, now
that fumes of liquor had somewhat sub
sided, a rash undertaking.
About half an hour passed. Perrys
canoe flew over the lake with incredible
swiftness. He was anxious TO bring his
adve nture to a close. A light shines out
upon the distance. II must be Raymonds
cabin, thought Perry, and he redoubled
his exertions. There was a single flash
vivid and innocuous-of lightning, sue
ceeGed by low rumble like the distant re-
verberations of artillery. Then several big
drops came pattering upon the young
officers uniform, and the little canoe was
tossed about as il it had been a cork.
"This is a pleasant beginning" said
Perry. half aloud; I'm making a night of
IL with vengeancel" The jest was scarcely